INKOKU

Inkoku didn’t start as a brand, It started with a collection of illustrations.

As the visual world developed, I began exploring how these characters and illustrations could exist beyond the artwork itself. This led to the creation of Inkuko and eventually, to Legends of Ink — a collection that brings together cardistry, illustration and fashion.

Two people passing a stack of playing cards between their hands.

Hands holding and assembling a LEGO Friends set box.

I created the main illustrations that became the starting point for the brand.

From there, I adapted the illustrations into playing cards, T-shirts and stickers, giving the artwork a new life in different formats.

The goal was to keep the same visual style across the collection while adapting each design to the way it would be used.

An illustration of a fierce tiger, shown from the front, with stylized stripes and a snarling expression, adorned with a bell around its neck. The tiger is positioned in front of a large red circle with yellow border, with stylized cloud and wave pat

A colorful tattoo-style illustration of a dragon's head, with a fierce expression, surrounded by clouds and a yellow circle background. There is Japanese text in yellow on the right side and red text at the bottom.

A colorful illustration of a snake with a green head, open mouth, and forked tongue, coiled around pink and purple flowers with a green and gold circular background, and Japanese characters to the right. The text below the snake reads "COBEA" in oran

Colorful illustration of two koi fish swimming in a pond, surrounded by water waves and bubbles, with Japanese text and decorative elements.

Traditional Japanese paper lantern with a design featuring multiple faces, surrounded by vibrant floral and foliage patterns, with stylized water and leaf motifs in the background.

A colorful illustration of traditional Japanese Daruma dolls with floral and foliage accents, positioned on a stylized cloud pattern.

Legends of Ink became the first major collection within Inkuko.

Legends of Ink became the first major collection within Inkuko.

Two black playing cards and a box labeled 'Legends of Ink Poker Deck' on a wooden surface.

Bringing the project to Kickstarter

Before moving into production, I developed the project and prepared it for a Kickstarter campaign.

This required translating the creative concept into a complete presentation — from the product and visual communication to campaign assets and promotional content.

125% funding goal

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125% funding goal 〰️

Set of black playing cards with neon-colored line drawings and text, featuring traditional and modern designs, arranged on wooden and bamboo surfaces.

A deck of playing cards featuring colorful and artistic designs of traditional Japanese tattoos, including dragons, women, and mythical creatures, with some cards face up and others face down.

Various playing cards featuring intricate, artistic line drawings of mythical creatures, deities, and symbolic designs, spread out on a wooden surface and a bamboo mat.

HANDMADE PRODUCTION

Alongside designing the collection, I personally print the apparel myself.

This gives me direct control over the final result and allows me to experiment with how the artwork translates from screen to physical material.

Two young adults with tattoos and piercings posing outdoors in front of a stone wall. One is sitting on the ground with a skateboard, wearing a green t-shirt and denim shorts. The other is standing, wearing a gray t-shirt, brown pants, a red bandana,

A young woman and a man standing close outdoors, holding hands, with trees and apartment buildings in the background.

A man with tattoos is taking a photo of a woman who is standing against a colorful mural, wearing sunglasses, a black hat, and casual clothes.

Five t-shirts hanging on wooden hangers on a wooden fence, with trees and a fence in the background. The t-shirts feature colorful graphics and Japanese characters.

A woman with long braided hair and tattoos rests her head on a man's shoulder while hugging him from behind in a park. The man has a shaved head, tattoos, and is wearing a green T-shirt with a graphic design.

A person with tattoos on their arms and torso adjusting their shirt, standing on a sandy beach with the ocean and a clear blue sky in the background.

A person with tattoos on arms, wearing a brown T-shirt with a colorful cobra design, and a white cap, standing on a sandy beach with the ocean in the background, facing away from the camera with hands behind head.

Person wearing a gray hoodie with gold text on the back reading 'GENDOS INK' and light blue jeans, standing outdoors under a clear blue sky with leafless tree branches overhead and green trees in the background.

THE DIGITAL EXPERIENCE

I designed and built the Inkuko online store using Shopify, creating a digital environment where the collection, products and visual identity could come together in one experience.